300 CURIOUS OR USEFUL PLANTS. 



SECTION X. 



Tcak.tree. 

 Tectonia grandis^ Roxb. 



This valuable timber tree, the glory of India, rises very tall, 

 with a vast trunk, and is the only Indian wood which the termes 

 fatule, or white ant*, will not touch. 



The teak is the oak of the Eastern world, indigenous in Pegu, 

 Hindostan, Malaga, and most of the oriental countries; and, like 

 the oak in Europe, employed very generally for ship-building, and 

 all inland purposes, when a strong and durable wood is required. 

 From the excellent properties of this timber, and the peculiar soil 

 and climate which it demands, the patriotic Society of Arts, Com- 

 merce, and Manufactures have lately expressed their opinion, that 

 it may be successfully cultivated in our West Indian and African 

 settlements, and have consequently recommended a trial to that 

 effect. 



The best account of the teak-tree that we have yet met with is 

 the following of Dr. Roxburgh, of Calcutta, whose botanical 

 activity is well known to every one. We extract it from the Trans- 

 actions of the Society of Arts, &c. 



" The timber of the teak-tree is in India what the oak is in Eng- 

 land : it is, however, unnecessary to enlarge on their comparative 

 value, because oak will not grow in India. Our attention ought 

 therefore to be confined to teak alone; not only as being by far the 

 best wood we yet know of in this country for ship-building, but 

 also for the house carpenter, and almost every other work where 

 strong, durable, easily-wrought, light wood is required. The 

 advantages to be derived from the cultivation of so valuable a 

 tree, where nature has not bestowed it, must therefore be obvious 

 to every one ; particularly in Bengal, where it grows well, and 

 the demand is so great. The teak-tree is a native of Pegu. 



" Government, sensible of what is here stated, have long 

 given every possible encouragement for an extensive propagation. 

 But to render it s< ill more general, the native land holders must 



* See the ensuing book, for the singular properties of this insect. 



